Education

Opportunities and Choices

A range of educational opportunities, from preschool to college are available in Chula Vista. Chula Vista Elementary School District (CVESD) is the largest K-6 district in California with over 28,500 students and 46 campuses. The CVESD is a high
performing and frequently honored district for student academic achievement. In 2012, nine schools were recognized as a California Distinguished Schools and four were honored for excellence by the National Center for Urban School
Transformation. In 2011, more than half of the campuses made the California Business for Education Excellence Honor Roll. District students outperformed their peers in San Diego County and California in standardized test scores last year. All
district campuses achieved testing index scores greater than the state’s target and 25 percent of the schools have an Academic Performance Score that matches up with the best schools anywhere in San Diego County.

The city is also home to the Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD) the largest secondary school 7-12 district in California. The district encompasses 41,000 students, and 24,000 adult students on 32 campuses. The curriculum provides
challenging courses that prepare students for college and/or careers. School to Career programs, specialized training, clubs, athletics, visual and performing arts, and student government opportunities round out the educational opportunities.
In 2000, the district earned recognition for its “Compact for Success” program. The program guarantees admission to San Diego State University for students who meet specific performance expectations through their high school career. Today,
the nationally recognized program has increased Sweetwater’s college bound population by 120 percent.

For those looking to move on to higher education, Southwestern College offers two-year programs for associate degrees and transfer credit in a range of disciplines. Non-credit courses designed to enhance personal and professional
development are offered through the college’s Continuing Education Department.

Several four year universities also are within commuting distance from Chula Vista. And, plans are moving forward for a new university to be located on a 375 acre site overlooking lower Otay Lake and adjacent to the U.S. Olympic Training Center. The
new university will bring together the comprehensive resources of distinguished public and private universities, research institutes and laboratories, and related business and technology firms that will collaborate to provide an important
regional resource for San Diego County and Baja California.